UPDATE: NC Senate OKs redoing Dix lease for park

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 09:59 AM.

Updated at 5:50 p.m.

RALEIGH — Senate Republicans have pushed through a bill to throw out a lease that lets Raleigh build a large park on the old Dorothea Dix mental hospital campus. But not all GOP senators joined in support.

The Senate voted 29-21 Tuesday in favor of the measure its authors say fixes a bad deal on prime acreage overlooking downtown Raleigh as Gov. Beverly Perdue left office.

Dozens of Raleigh residents spoke out against a renegotiated lease at a public hearing Monday. Senate Democrats said during floor debate the change would reflect poorly on the state and harm efforts to establish a destination park in the Triangle.

Four Republicans — three from Wake County — joined all Democrats in voting against the measure, which now goes to the House.

RALEIGH — Senate Republicans have pushed through a bill to throw out a lease that lets Raleigh build a large park on the old Dorothea Dix mental hospital campus. But not all GOP senators joined in support.

The Senate voted 29-21 Tuesday in favor of the measure its authors say fixes a bad deal on prime acreage overlooking downtown Raleigh as Gov. Beverly Perdue left office.

Dozens of Raleigh residents spoke out against a renegotiated lease at a public hearing Monday. Senate Democrats said during floor debate the change would reflect poorly on the state and harm efforts to establish a destination park in the Triangle.

Four Republicans — three from Wake County — joined all Democrats in voting against the measure, which now goes to the House.

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RALEIGH — Senate Republican leaders are moving forward with legislation to throw out a lease that lets Raleigh build a large park on the old Dorothea Dix mental hospital campus, although city leaders and residents are fighting the change.

The full Senate scheduled debate Tuesday on the bill its authors say is needed because the state entered a bad deal on prime acreage overlooking downtown Raleigh as Gov. Beverly Perdue left office.

The current lease gives the state up to $68 million over the next 75 years as Raleigh city boosters turn 325 acres into a regional destination park. The bill would require a lease with a higher price, fewer acres and proceeds benefiting mental health programs.

Dozens of Raleigh residents spoke out against a renegotiated lease at a public hearing Monday.